Commission Denies Homeowner's Bid to Keep As-Built Porch Railings in Split Vote, Reviews Mountainside Hospital Redevelopment Plans

The commission rejected an application from Michael Pensak of 134 Ridgewood Avenue to keep porch railings he had already installed that don't match his approved permit drawings -- square balusters were called for, but round, turned balusters were installed instead. Commissioners Wright and Githens said the installed railings clashed with the home's strong modern architectural lines, which had called for a plainer iron style rather than the fussier one installed. Before the vote, the commission laid out Pensak's options if the application failed: work with a subcommittee to find an approved replacement, or appeal to the Planning Board. The vote to approve the application as installed failed 3-2, with Herrigel and Kopec in favor and Githens, McMahon and Travia opposed; Wright abstained and Darby recused himself.

The commission also gave an advisory review of redevelopment plans for 311 Bay Avenue, the site of the planned Mountainside Hospital/Hackensack Meridian redevelopment; the commission has no formal approval power over the project, so no vote was taken. Representatives from Hackensack Meridian Health and its architects presented brick, cast stone, metal and glass materials. Commissioners said the building's north and east sides worked better than its west and south sides, criticized paired corner windows and third-floor metal panel strips as out of keeping with the recommendations of the area's redevelopment plan, and recommended the design use more square or rectangular windows similar to nearby historic buildings. The commission will send its comments to the Planning Board in a formal memorandum.

In a closer vote, Linden Avenue School won approval for a new entrance sign matching one already installed at Forest Avenue School, but only after commissioner Wright cast the lone dissenting vote in an otherwise 6-1 approval; several members, including Kopec, said the sign blocked the building's front and duplicated an existing sign above the entrance doors. The commission asked the school to return with three alternative placement options.

Elsewhere, an application to correct the previously approved renovation at 16 Sherman Avenue -- where architect George Azrak told the commission the installed siding spacing, siding type, porch overhang and roof pitch had all deviated from what was approved -- was approved unanimously among voting members, with Wright recusing himself, on condition the siding be corrected to Dutch Lap at a 5-inch exposure.

What to watch

• Linden Avenue School is expected to return to the commission's December 2017 meeting with three sign placement options.
• The commission's advisory comments on the Mountainside Hospital redevelopment at 311 Bay Avenue will go to the Planning Board, which holds authority over the project.